PGA legend Jack Nicklaus says Saudi-backed league offered him money to be face of tour

Former PGA pro Greg Norman has very quickly become synonymous with the LIV Golf Invitational Series -- the Saudi Arabia-funded breakaway league that has divided the golf world this season.

But as it turns out, Norman wasn't LIV's first choice as a figurehead for the controversial tour.

PGA icon Jack Nicklaus told Michael Bamberger of The Fire Pit Collective that he twice turned down an offer to be LIV Golf's franchise face.

And this wasn't some lowball offer, mind you.

"I was offered something in excess of $100 million by the Saudis, to do the job probably similar to the one that Greg is doing," Nicklaus said. "I turned it down. Once verbally, once in writing. I said, 'Guys, I have to stay with the PGA Tour. I helped start the PGA Tour.'"

Nicklaus is, of course, not the first golfer the new league has tried throwing a ton of money. He's also not the first to turn them down. LIV Golf has been trying to bring the PGA's best to play in its series, starting with a London-based event next month, and using large sums of money to do so. However, many pros still strongly object to the new league because of Saudi Arabia's alleged human rights violations.

The PGA Tour last week denied requests from golfers be excused from the Tour in order to participate in LIV Golf's London event because of a scheduling conflict with a PGA event. The deadline to request leave for the next LIV event -- which is set to take place in Oregon in early July -- is Tuesday, and there is a strong sense those requests will be denied as well.

In the meantime, the PGA Tour is also readying for the PGA Championship at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Last year's winner, Phil Mickelson, withdrew from the field shortly after his request to play in the LIV's London event was declined. Mickelson hasn't played in an event since January after receiving severe backlash for his comments in favor of the Saudi-backed tournament and dismissal of alleged human rights violations by the country.